Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



s; STRONG. Breach-,Loading Fire-Arm.

Pam-,ed May 19, 1863 "wenn Witnesse. @WW

. PETERS. PHOTOLITMOGRPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

IINHED STATES PATENT CEEEJE.

SAMUEL STRONG, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

s Spccication forming part of Lei-ters Patent N0. SSJSQS, dated May 19,1863.

To all whom, t 11mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL STRONG, of Washington city, in the Districtof Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBreech-Loading Fire-Arms,of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which make part of this specication, and in which-- Figure 1 representsa side view of a musket with my improvement attached; Fig. 2, a verticalcentra-l longitudinal section through the same; Fig. 3, a frontelevation of the hinged breech-piece; Fig. 4, a rear elevation of thesame. Figs. 5 and 6 are views of the lever which releases thecartridge-case; and Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are respectively end, perspective,and side views ofthe plug used when the arm is changed from a breech toa muzzle loading fire-arm.

Letters Patent of the United States were granted to mev on the 16th ofDecember, 1862, and numbered 37,208, for improvements in breech-loadingnre-arms, and my present improvements are designed to renderbreechloading arms of which my patented arm is a type not only moreeffective as breech-loaders, but equally so when it becomes expedient toload the same class of arms at the muzzle.

My invention has relation to an improved mode of changing thebreech-loader to a muzzle-loader, and to a mode of 'withdrawing thecartridge by simply a pull on the trigger; and to these ends myinvention consists in the employment of a solid plug or removable breechmade to fit nicely the bore of the barrel, and having a conicaldepression at its forward end to receive the base of the commonmuzzleloading cartridge, the"` vent passing from the apex ofthedepression to the nipple, which is inserted centrally in the top of thesolid part of the breech-piece and barrel, and at such an angle to theface of the hammer as to enable the cap to receive a full blow over itstop, and thus cause an explosion of the fulminate with 'absolutecertainty, while the base of the plug or removable breech is soconstructed as to prevent the escape of any gas around. it from theexplosion of the charge, and be at the same time readily removed by apull on the trigger, and my invention further `consists in theemployment of a lever, one end of which is made to clasp thecartridge-cup,whilelthe other end is vibrated by the trigger to releasethe cup after the cartridge has been exploded, or the plug when the armis t0 be used as a breechloader.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the barrel of the musket withits hinged breech-piece B in place, with the hammer c at half-cock.

The lock consists ofthe hammer c, which vibrates upon apin, a, passingtransversely through and fastened to the hinged breechpiece B.

b is the mainspring, secured at one'end, by a screw or otherwise, to thesolid portion of the breech at the grasp, while its opposite end is leftfree to move within a space left by the hinged breech-piece when open,but rubbing beneath and depressed by a recess in the foot of the hammerwhen the hinged breech-piece is closed.

The trigger D is secured by a pin to the lower part of the solid portionof the breech at its rear end.

In order to expel the exploded cartridgecase or to withdraw the solidplug from the breech, VI pivot a vibrating bii'urcated lever, I, upon afulcrum, ,-in such manner that its forks embrace the lock end of theplug or case, while its toe or point rests against the face ot' thetrigger. a spring, t.

To load the gun, the catch' 7c is released by compressing the j aws K,and the hinged breechpiece B turned to one side on its pivot b', so asto be out of the line of the axis of the barrel. The cartridge or plug Fis then inserted into the chamber, and thebreech-picce swung back: intoplace and locked by the catch. The hammer bears upon the mainspring,which tends to press the head of the hammer upon the cap; but thistendency is counteracted by the nose of the trigger, which enters thenotch c on the face of the hammer and holds the piece at half-cock. Thepiece is cocked and fired in the usual way. After firing, thebreech-piece is thrown back, as before, and the plug 0r case F withdrawnby pulling the trigger, which vibrates the lever I, the forks of whichembrace a tlange on the cartridge. A new case is then inserted, and theformer actions repeated.

The lower end of the hammer is notched to l receive the point or top ofthe trigger, as

This lever is held in position by e l v 38,643

shown at c and c. It Will thus be seen that in this improvement the lockfor breech-loading fire-arms has the parts independent of each other andattached to separate portions of the breech, yet they are so combinedthat when the breech is in place the several parts of the lock Work as aunit, and when the breech is not properly in place an accidentalexplosion of the cartridge cannot be produced by the lock.

A further description of these parts is here unnecessary, as a referenceto my said Patent N o. 37,208 will fully exhibit the construction andmode of operation of my said breech-load ing arm.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination of the .solid plug with the hinged breech-piece, thecentrally-placed stationary nipple, and a mechanism for removing theplug, substantially in the manner described, for the purpose ofconverting the

